Northern Hawk Owl

Taxobox
name = Northern Hawk Owl
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1

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image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Strigiformes
familia = Strigidae
genus = "Surnia"
genus_authority = Duméril, 1806
species = "S. ulula"
binomial = "Surnia ulula"
binomial_authority = (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Northern Hawk Owl ("Surnia ulula") is a medium sized owl. The term "hawk" refers to its falcon-like wing shape and long tail. It is the only living species in the genus "Surnia". The species is sometimes called simply the Hawk Owl; however, many species of owls in the "Ninox" genus are also called hawk owls.

This bird is 35-43 cm long with a 69-82 cm wingspan. It has a rounded head with yellow eyes, dark brown upperparts and barred underparts and tail. The song is a bubbling "lulululululullululul".

It is found in the boreal forests of North America and Eurasia, usually on the edges of more open woodland. This bird nests in large tree cavities or uses nests abandoned by other large birds. It has little fear of humans, and will attack if the young are approached too closely.

This is a partially diurnal owl, which hunts voles and birds like thrushes. It waits on a perch and takes advantage of its rapid flight to overtake prey. The Hawk Owl has exceptional hearing and can plunge into snow to capture rodents below the surface.

It is not migratory, but occasionally irrupts south of its breeding range.

The Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene "Surnia robusta" and the Early Pleistocene "S. capeki" are known fossil predecessors of the living species.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links

* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=2677 Northern Hawk Owl videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Northern_Hawk_Owl.html Northern Hawk Owl] - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
* [http://sdakotabirds.com/species/northern_hawk_owl_info.htm Northern Hawk Owl Information and Photos] - South Dakota Birds
* [http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=BD0686 Northern Hawk Owl] - eNature.com
* [http://www.bird-stamps.org/cspecies/7811800.htm Stamps]